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Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report
Inspection of Youth Custodial Services in Tasmania, 2019
October
2019
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services
Produced by the Tasmanian Custodial Inspector Address: Level 6, 86 Collins Street, Hobart, Tasmania 7000 Telephone: 1800 001 170 (Free call) Facsimile: 03 6173 0231 Email: custodial.inspectorate@custodialinspector.tas.gov.au Website: www.custodialinspector.tas.gov.au ISSN 2209-895X (Print) ISSN 2209-8968 (Online) DISCLAIMER: This document has been prepared by the Custodial Inspector for general information purposes. While every
care has been taken in relation to its accuracy, no warranty is given or implied. Further, recipients should obtain their own
independent advice before making any decisions that rely on this information.
Contents
1 From the Custodial Inspector ______________________________________ 1
2 Acknowledgements _______________________________________________ 2
3 Executive Summary ______________________________________________ 3
4 Summary of Recommendations ___________________________________ 5
5 About Ashley Youth Detention Centre ______________________________ 6
6 Inspection Methodology __________________________________________ 8
7 Inspection Standards _____________________________________________ 9
7.1 Contact with Family and Friends ______________________________ 10
7.2 Community Connections ___________________________________ 18
7.3 Ashley Youth Detention Centre’s Location ______________________ 22
7.4 Peer Interaction, Community Service Activities and Parental Responsibilities
______________________________________________________ 23
7.5 Partnerships _____________________________________________ 25
Appendix 1 - Glossary of Terms and Acronyms ________________________ 26
Appendix 2 - The Inspection Standards _______________________________ 27
Appendix 3 - Case Management Process ______________________________ 29
Appendix 4 - Framework for Rehabilitation Programs __________________ 30
Appendix 5 - Communities Tasmania Response to Recommendations __ 31
From the Custodial Inspector
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 1
1 From the Custodial Inspector
The Custodial Inspector Act 2016 requires me to carry out a mandatory inspection of each
custodial centre in the State at least once every three years and to report to the responsible
Minister and Parliament. “Custodial centre” is defined in the Act to include a prison within the
meaning of the Corrections Act 1997 and a detention centre within the meaning of the Youth
Justice Act 1997.
To meet my legislative obligations using the limited resources available, the Custodial
Inspectorate undertakes themed inspections of custodial centres focussing on particular
inspection standards. The intention is, at the end of a three year cycle, all facets of custodial
centres will have been inspected against the full set of inspection standards.
I am required by section 15 of the Act to prepare a report on my findings and
recommendations in relation to each mandatory inspection to the Minister. I report directly
to the Minister responsible for the custodial centre and the responsible Minister is required to
table a copy of my inspection report in each House of Parliament. In this way, the findings
and recommendations relating to inspections become a matter of public record.
In March 2019, the fourth theme based inspection of Ashley Youth Detention Centre was
undertaken, focussing on Families, Community and Partnerships. I am pleased to present
this report of that inspection.
Prior to publication, the Department of Communities Tasmania, the department responsible
for the management of Ashley Youth Detention Centre, was consulted and invited to correct
any factual inaccuracies in this report. Appendix 5 details the response of
Communities Tasmania to the recommendations.
Richard Connock
Custodial Inspector
October 2019
Acknowledgements
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 2
2 Acknowledgements
Acknowledgment and appreciation is extended to all staff at Ashley Youth Detention Centre
and the Department of Communities Tasmania who supported this inspection.
I also acknowledge the contribution of external service providers who willingly engaged with
the inspection team during this inspection.
Executive Summary
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 3
3 Executive Summary
The inspection standards for young people in detention relating to Families, Community and
Partnerships cover such things as detention centres working with families, support networks
and cultural networks of young people to seek to reduce reoffending. They also consider the
detention centre’s partnerships with government and community organisations and are
focussed on improving integrated services to young people.
Themes include:
contact with family and friends;
access to the detention centre for visits by family and friends;
connections to the community;
community activities conducted by the detention centre;
volunteer community service activities for young people;
young people who are parents or have parental responsibilities; and
relationships with external organisations.
For the most part, compliance with the standards was considered through observation by the
inspection team during an onsite visit to Ashley Youth Detention Centre (AYDC) on 4 and 5
March 2019.
AYDC is managed by Children and Youth Services (CYS), an operational unit of the
Department of Communities Tasmania (CT). CYS is responsible for providing care and
custody, at various levels of security, for young people detained and remanded in custody in
Tasmania.1
During the inspection, a number of sources of information were used to assess AYDC against
the inspection standards. Apart from the onsite visit, these included: meetings with CT senior
management; individual interviews with AYDC staff; meetings with external service providers;
a review of documentation; a desktop audit of AYDC policies, procedures and registers; and
observation by the inspection team. Discussions were also held with a number of young
people at AYDC.
The inspection found that:
AYDC has established excellent relationships with external agencies who provide a
range of services to young people at AYDC, however, there is little community activity
– activity external to AYDC where young people in detention undertake activities in the
community for the purposes of reintegration, resocialisation, and re-establishing
1 Note: For the purposes of this report, a reference to the terms ‘detainee’ and ‘resident’ means young people that are lawfully detained in custody at AYDC and includes both those that are remanded and those that are sentenced.
Acknowledgements
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 4
relationships with family and friends and making new connections in the community -
conducted by the Centre;
all young people at AYDC are encouraged to maintain contact with family and friends
by means of personal visits, telephone calls and letters;
AYDC’s facilitation of visits by family and friends was commendable. The visit room,
however, is sparse, conversation echoes, there is no outside facility for visits and no
child play areas;
little privacy is afforded to young people making telephone calls; and
despite email being a relevant and timely source of communication, there is no
electronic communication available to young people at AYDC due to poor internet
coverage onsite and concerns about young people accessing inappropriate sites.
Executive Summary
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 5
4 Summary of Recommendations
It is recommended that Communities Tasmania:
1. Updates the AYDC Unit Rules and Information for Young People and Families booklets to ensure currency and consistency of information across all areas.
2. Provides a private space in each unit at AYDC, to afford appropriate privacy for young people to make telephone calls. Additionally, a telephone system with the ability to record calls similar to those being used in other jurisdictions should be considered.
3. Considers implementing video visits for young people at AYDC by means of communication tools such as Skype and FaceTime to further facilitate family and community contact.
4. Updates the visiting facilities at AYDC, including by providing an outdoor visits area, to make visits more relaxed and family friendly.
5. Considers providing a secure, electronic form of communication for young people at AYDC, such as the ‘Email a Prisoner’ system.
6. Considers including in case management records invitations to families, significant others and community supports to participate and have input into young people’s case management and exit planning meetings.
7. Considers ways to increase the participation of young people at AYDC in community activities outside of the Centre to strengthen their connections with community.
Inspection Methodology
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 6
5 About Ashley Youth Detention Centre
CYS is responsible for providing care and custody for young people detained and remanded
in custody at AYDC.
AYDC is Tasmania’s only youth detention facility2 and is located near Deloraine in northern
Tasmania, approximately 230 kilometres from Hobart. The Centre is situated on
approximately 36.5 hectares of land, some of which is run as a small farm.
AYDC can accommodate up to 50 young offenders of all genders aged from ten to 18 years,
spread across four accommodation units. The Centre is staffed 24 hours per day to cater for
the number of young people in detention at any particular time.
The Youth Justice Act 1997 requires AYDC to rehabilitate young people in conflict with the
law, and to protect the community from illegal behaviour whilst providing secure care for
young people detained or remanded by the courts. Rehabilitation outcomes may be improved
through the provision of programs in accordance with the principles contained in the Act.
There is a variety of recreational facilities for young people at AYDC, including:
an indoor gym, which has a basketball court and a fitness area;
an outdoor swimming pool, open seasonally;
an outdoor basketball court;
cricket nets; and
a barbeque area.
Young people at AYDC come from various backgrounds and generally face major social and
developmental challenges. Risky behaviours are common and most have experienced:
trauma; neglect; mental health issues; physical abuse or substance misuse.
Studies have found that young people on remand have:
poorer mental and physical health;
higher occurrence of suicidal thoughts and behaviours;
more family difficulties;
poorer school attendance; and
emotional and behavioural problems interfering with schooling and social activities;
than most young people in the general community.3
2 The Youth Justice Act 1997 provides that by notice published in the Gazette, the Minister may establish or abolish detention centres, or declare premises to be or not be detention centres. In addition to AYDC, the Minister has declared the Hobart and Launceston Reception Prisons, Risdon Prison and the Ron Barwick Minimum Security Prison to be detention centres for young people. In practice, however, it would be extremely rare for a young person to be detained for any significant length of time in an adult custodial centre. 3 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, National data on the health of justice-involved young people: a feasibility study 2016–17, page 7. Refer https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/4d24014b-dc78-4948-a9c4-6a80a91a3134/aihw-juv-125.pdf.aspx?inline=true
About Ashley Youth Detention Centre
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 7
To meet the needs of young people at AYDC, a range of organisations provide services
including:
Correctional Primary Health Services (CPHS)4, which is responsible for healthcare provision at AYDC; and
the Department of Education which is responsible for the Ashley School;
as well as other relevant government and non-government organisations.
4 CPHS is part of the Tasmanian Health Service. CPHS nurses staff the healthcare centre at AYDC. CPHS
medical officers who travel from the south of the state provide General Practitioner services at AYDC.
Inspection Methodology
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 8
6 Inspection Methodology
Inspection provides independent, external evaluation of a custodial centre that includes an
analysis of areas that require improvement. It is based on gathering a range of evidence that
is evaluated against an established inspection framework.
All inspections of custodial centres are conducted against the Custodial Inspector’s published
inspection standards. The inspection standards are based on international human rights
standards, and cover matters considered essential to the safe, respectful and purposeful
treatment of young people in custody.
The inspection standards specify the criteria for inspection. During the Families, Community
and Partnership inspection, a number of sources of evidence were used to assess Ashley
against the standards. These sources of evidence included:
individual interviews and conversations carried out with staff, young people, and
service providers;
documentation, including procedural manuals, policies and training documents; and
observation by inspectors, documented by contemporaneous notes.5
In addition, desk-based research and analysis was carried out.
After an inspection is completed, inspection reports are tabled in Parliament. Prior to tabling,
custodial centre management and the responsible Minister are consulted with, and invited to
correct any factual inaccuracies in the report.
How will the inspection team make judgements?
The inspection team will ensure that their judgements are:
secure - based on sufficient evidence
first-hand - based on direct observation of processes, young people and staff6
reliable - based on the criteria in the inspection standards
valid - accurately reflecting what is achieved and provided
corporate - findings reflect the collective view of the inspection team
5 The observations, findings and recommendations are limited by the information available, or disclosed, to the
inspection team. 6 First-hand wherever possible, and if not a direct observation the information relied on will be fact checked and confirmed by another reliable source.
Inspection Standards
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 9
7 Inspection Standards
The Inspection Standards for Young People in Detention in Tasmania provide the structure
for reviewing and assessing the performance of AYDC in relation to the treatment, and
conditions, of young people in detention.
The standards were developed taking into account the range of relevant international treaties
and covenants, the Australasian Juvenile Justice Administrators Juvenile Justice Standards
2009, and the Australian Children’s Commissioners’ and Guardians’ Statement on Conditions
and Treatment in Youth Justice Detention November 2017.
The standards are based on the Inspection Standards for Juvenile Justice Custodial Services
in New South Wales. I consulted with CT and the (then) Interim Commissioner for Children
and Young People and his staff to draft and finalise the inspection standards.
Independent monitoring and assessment is important to ensure custodial services are
meeting these standards. An independent perspective can identify issues – both
shortcomings requiring improvement and strengths that can be better utilised – that may not
be obvious to the custodial centre, thereby providing a continuous improvement framework.
The standards relating to Families, Community and Partnerships are located at Chapters 4
and 5 of the standards, which are available in their entirety on the Custodial Inspector’s
website www.custodialinspector.tas.gov.au and at Appendix 2 to this report.
.
Contact with Family and Friends
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 10
7.1 Contact with Family and Friends
Inspection Standards – 2.1.3 and 4.1
The inspection standards connect the decent and humane treatment of young people in
detention to their having contact with family and friends. The standards recognise this contact
is necessary to ensuring a young person’s psychological wellbeing and their successful
reintegration into the community upon release.
The inspection found that all young people at AYDC are encouraged to maintain contact with
family and friends by means of personal visits, telephone calls and letters.
The Behaviour Development Scheme
The level of access to telephone calls and personal visits is dependent on the young person’s
level in the AYDC’s Behaviour Development Scheme (BDS). The scheme consists of colour
levels: red; orange; yellow and green. A young person’s placement on the BDS reflects their
behaviours, participation in programs, general attitude and involvement in incidents at AYDC.
The aim of the BDS is to improve the behaviour of young people and when this behaviour
improves, they move through the colour levels and can earn extra incentives. The red colour
level represents the poorest behaviour and the green colour level the best.
Young people can make seven telephone calls per week, regardless of their colour level.
The yellow and green colour levels permit extra phone calls – three extra for yellow and five
extra for green.
Green is the only level that allows personal visits to take place outside AYDC in a suitable,
neutral venue with immediate family or significant others. This personal leave is supervised
by staff and is allowed pursuant to AYDC’s Temporary Leave policy which outlines the
requirements for such leave. The policy includes assessments of risk to:
the young person;
family members;
staff who are supervising the visit; and
members of the community.
The inspection team noted that the BDS document does not outline the minimum entitlements
with regard to mail, telephone calls and visits. Some of these are outlined in other documents,
specifically the Ashley Youth Detention Centre Unit Rules and the Ashley Youth Detention
Centre Information for Young People and Families booklets. Some information in the BDS
document is inconsistent with the booklets. For instance, the Unit Rules indicate that extra
phone calls for young people on yellow and green are ‘purchased’ whereas the BDS
document indicates that they are to be provided at no charge. It is noted that the Information
for Young People and Families booklet was updated recently (in February 2018) whereas the
BDS document and Unit Rules were last updated in November 2016 and October 2012
respectively. These documents should be updated to ensure currency and consistency of
information across all areas.
Contact with Family and Friends
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 11
Telephone calls
The expectation of inspection standard 4.1.3 is that there should be sufficient telephones at
AYDC for young people to make calls to and receive calls from family and friends, and that
they should be located so as to discreetly provide security measures while allowing some
privacy for calls.
The inspection considered AYDC’s Standard Operating Procedure #25 titled Telephone Calls
and Written Correspondence which outlines the requirements for calls to be made to and
from young people at AYDC.
Upon admission, young people are permitted to make telephone contact with a nominated
family member, significant other or other professional person7. These telephone calls are
separate to, and not counted as, calls permitted pursuant to the young person’s BDS colour.
Within five days of admission, young people complete a Telephone/Visit List detailing who
they wish to make telephone calls to and receive telephone calls from. People listed by a
young person are contacted by Admissions Induction Unit staff to confirm that they will accept
calls from the young person.
The Unit Rules state that staff must supervise all phone calls; no young person is to use
telephone equipment without supervision by AYDC staff. Procedure #25 provides:
Personal telephone calls are to be fully supervised, that is, maintaining the young
person within line of sight and hearing range. However staff are to adopt an
unobtrusive approach to supervision wherever possible.
For telephone calls to be made, young people need to request staff to provide a telephone,
which is then plugged into a telephone point. In the majority of residential units, the only
telephone connection point is located in the unit common area. A young person in the
induction unit demonstrated how he makes a phone call and said that the location of the
connection point, being beside the unit entry door, was problematic and provided no privacy.
It was clear to the inspection team that any conversation would carry throughout the common
area.
In residential units where telephone points are not in the common area, points are located in
rooms which do not contain any acoustic partitions or panelling. The inspection team noted
this would make it difficult for a young person to carry on a conversation, and supervision by
AYDC staff would be challenging.
The procedure, when followed, appears to provide some level of security, but little privacy is
afforded to the young person making the call, regardless of telephone location.
The provision of a private space in each unit, with acoustic panelling installed would provide
appropriate privacy for young people to make calls. Additionally, a telephone system with
the ability to record calls would provide privacy and permit the young person to engage in
natural and comfortable conversation with family and friends whilst allowing AYDC to review
7 Such as a lawyer or youth justice worker.
Contact with Family and Friends
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 12
calls to meet security requirements. This would also eliminate the need for staff to supervise
personal telephone calls.
The inspection team was advised that a log of all telephone calls is kept. The procedure
provides designated times for telephone calls to be made and received as follows:
Monday – Friday inclusive: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00am – 9:00pm.
Personal telephone calls made and received by young people are a maximum duration of ten
minutes.
The Procedure also outlines arrangements for telephone contact between a young person at
AYDC and a person at another detention centre or prison.
Written correspondence can be sent and received by young people at AYDC. The exceptions
are where:
the young person wishes to write to a person in another detention centre or prison –
unless appropriate approvals have been obtained;
AYDC has determined the person is unsuitable or not permitted to have contact with
the young person; or
the mail recipient has contacted AYDC to expressly request that they not be contacted
by the young person.
The inspection team was advised by staff that for the safety and security of the Centre and
the community, all mail to and from young people is checked by operational staff. If a
prohibited item or inappropriate content is discovered in incoming mail, the Centre Manager
determines whether the item will be disposed of, or stored in the young person’s property to
be accessed upon release. In any event, the young person is advised that the item has been
received, and what has happened to it. If the item is disposed of, a record is made in the
young person’s property list.
Staff also advised the inspection team that with respect to outgoing mail, if operational staff
discover inappropriate content, the item is returned to the young person with advice that it
will not be sent out unless the unsuitable content is removed.
The procedure outlines arrangements for mail to be sent from young people at AYDC to a
person in another detention centre or prison, including appropriate permissions that must be
obtained. Mail is submitted to the Operations Manager who makes contact with the Manager
of the other detention centre or prison to seek permission for the item to be sent. In the event
a letter or parcel for a young person is received from another detention centre or prison, the
Operations Manager must approve the provision of the item to the young person. If the item
is not approved, it is placed in the young person’s property to be accessed upon release.
The young person and the centre from which the item was sent must be informed that the
item was not provided to the young person, but was placed in his/her property. A record of
Contact with Family and Friends
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 13
the item is made on the young person’s property list.
As noted, the inspection team was advised that there is no electronic communication
available to young people at AYDC due to poor internet coverage onsite and concerns about
young people accessing inappropriate sites. The inspection team raised the possibility of
implementing a system such as Email a Prisoner8 which is used in other custodial centres.
In today’s society, and particularly for young people, email is a relevant and timely means of
communication and the Email a Prisoner system addresses the issues of security and
inappropriate content.
Personal Visits
The inspection standards require that arrangements for visits are flexible, visitor-friendly,
allow for relaxed communication, and include options for outdoor visits and child play areas.
Information about the Centre’s visits policies, visiting hours, and how to book visits is available
at the Centre – in the Admissions Unit and the Visitors Room – and on its website9, as is
information about how to contact the Centre and make complaints.
The Telephone/Visit List completed by young people lists people they wish to receive visits
from whilst they are at AYDC. All people on the list are vetted by Admissions Induction Unit
staff, the Case Management Coordinator and the Operations Coordinator. This process
provides an opportunity for young people to have a say in who visits them, and for persons
listed by the young people to accept or decline to visit.
The inspection found that AYDC’s facilitation of visits by family and friends was
commendable. The inspection team spoke with the Admissions Officer, who also scheduled
visits as the Visitors Room is located in close proximity to the Admissions Unit.
Approved visitors book visits by phone or email. Scheduling of visits appeared to be
extremely adaptable, with staff willing to do all they could to accommodate visitors. The
inspection team noted that staff were extremely flexible with regard to days and times for
visits and were more than agreeable to extending the duration of visits to double or triple the
usual time for family and friends travelling long distances, for example from Hobart to the
Centre.
The AYDC Standard Operating Procedure #9 titled Site Entry/Exit – Visitors and Service
Providers outlines the requirements for visitors to young people at the Centre including: entry
to the Centre; prohibited and unauthorised items; refusal of entry; and directions to leave the
Centre. If a visitor is refused entry or is asked to leave, AYDC records the refusal/termination
of visit and an Incident Report is completed.
AYDC maintains an Alerts Register for those people:
prohibited from contacting particular young people in custody; or
who display significant behavioural issues that impact on young people at a visit.
8 See www.emailaprisoner.com.au 9 https://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/youth/youth_justice/aydc/visits
Contact with Family and Friends
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 14
The Alerts Register is checked prior to visits being scheduled to ensure the safety and
security of the young person and the Centre.
Visitors are not subject to any searches when they arrive at AYDC. They sign the Visitors
Book and are provided with a safety and security briefing. All visitors are required to place
personal items brought into the Centre in a visitor locker. Lockers are located outside the
Visitors Room and cannot be accessed during the visit.
Visitors bringing, or attempting to bring, prohibited items into AYDC may be banned from the
Centre. Staff reported that temporary bans have only ever been imposed; no visitor has been
permanently banned.
All visits are supervised by at least one operational staff member. Staff are available before,
during and after the visit to answer any visitor queries. The supervising staff member is
responsible for the security of the Visitors Room, the young person, all visitors and other staff
in the area.
There is no outside facility for visits and there are no child play areas. The visit room is sparse
and conversation echoes. To facilitate a more pleasant visit, particularly for younger children
visiting with parents, the Admissions Officer will provide a box of games along with
refreshments. Nappies and baby wipes are also available from the Admissions Officer if
required.
For security reasons, visitors are prohibited from bringing food or gifts for the young person.
Exceptions are made for special occasions such as birthdays when family or friends can
request permission to bring a cake.
Once the visit is completed and visitors have departed, the procedure indicates that a young
person is subject to a clothed body search 10 and that an unclothed search 11 may be
conducted if it is suspected the young person is in possession of an unauthorised item which
they are not prepared to surrender. The inspection team was advised however that clothed
body searches are only conducted if it is suspected the young person is concealing a
prohibited item.
Searches are discussed in detail in the inspection report relating to Custody dated August
2019.
Given the location of AYDC, it is understandable that it may be difficult for some families to
visit there. To lessen the financial impact upon families, AYDC offers a number of incentives
such as bus tickets, fuel vouchers and taxis from Deloraine; Redline coach services stop at
Deloraine and taxis are the only option for visitors who do not drive. There is no means
testing applied to these incentives.
AYDC does not pursue or pressure families and friends to visit, nor does it review the
frequency of visits to young people. The inspection team concedes this is probably due to
10 Also known as a ‘pat search’ or ‘pat down’. No removal of clothing is required. 11 Also known as a ‘strip search’ where the top half of clothing is removed, searched and returned to the young person prior to the bottom half of clothing being searched in the same manner.
Contact with Family and Friends
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 15
the small number of young people in custody. Staff are usually aware of the family
circumstances of the young people in custody and, sadly, it was reported that some do not
receive any visits. The reasons for this included family breakdown and the young person
being subject to an order under the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 199712.
Inspection standard 4.1.8 requires that visits should not be withheld as a sanction. There
was nothing to indicate to the inspection team that visits are ever withheld, or used as a tool
to manage the young person’s behaviour. Rather, visits are openly encouraged and,
commendably, it appeared that staff go above and beyond what would typically be expected
to facilitate meaningful contact for young people through visits.
At the onsite inspection, the possibility of Skype or video visits was raised. Staff said that
video visits had been trialled in the past, however there was very little uptake from young
people. Video visits using Skype or similar technology are an innovative and cost effective
alternative communication method for young people who do not receive onsite visits. With
technology becoming more accessible and tools such as Skype and FaceTime now widely
accepted forms of communication in the community, the possibility of video visits which are
supervised by staff should be reconsidered.
Case Planning
Detention centres can reduce the offending behaviour of young people by working directly
with their families and engaging other support networks in the community. Inspection
standard 4.1.10 relates to the involvement of family members and/or significant others in case
planning for, and the management of, young people at AYDC.
Case plans are developed for each young person at AYDC. A Case Manager is also
appointed for each individual. Case planning starts immediately upon admission to the
Centre and continues until the young person’s discharge. It seeks to address issues
contributing to the young person’s offending behaviour by the provision of services and
programs tailored to their individual needs. The case plan considers each young person’s
educational needs, health, program options, accommodation and plans on leaving the
Centre. Establishing the case plan involves linking the young person with services to meet
their needs such as drug and alcohol counselling, sexual health services, mental health
services and Centrelink.
Once established, the plan directs the daily management of the young person and their
involvement in programs while they are at the Centre. The case management process is
outlined in the diagram at Appendix 3.
Case plans are regularly reviewed by means of weekly Centre Support Team (CST) and
Case Plan Review (CPR) meetings. The CST considers the young person’s progress during
the preceding week and reviews their behaviour, program participation and involvement in
12 Courts may make a care and protection order if satisfied that a child is at risk. An order may grant custody of the child to either a guardian, a member of the child’s family, the Chief Executive Officer of a non-government organisation that provides facilities for the residential care of children, or the Secretary of Communities Tasmania.
Contact with Family and Friends
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 16
any incidents. The outcome of the CST meeting is discussed with the young person by the
Case Manager at the CPR meeting. At the CPR meeting, the young person’s goals and the
actions they have taken – or have to take – to achieve them are discussed.
AYDC’s Case Management Guidelines provide:
Case planning involves the input of the Centre, Community Youth Justice and Child
Protection staff, the young person and their family.
In particular, the Guidelines indicate that stakeholders, including family, should be invited to
the initial case planning meeting and the exit planning meeting which is held prior to a young
person’s discharge from the Centre. The inspection team was provided with a sample of
case management files and noted that family circumstances, community supports 13 ,
relationships with siblings and significant others were integral considerations in the
establishment of the case management plan. The case management files indicated to the
inspection team that community youth justice workers are involved in both the case planning
and exit planning meetings. It was not clear, however, whether families were
involved/engaged in these processes as there were no details relating to families. That is not
to say that family involvement had not been invited, only that in the samples provided to the
inspection team there was no evidence of family involvement. It is acknowledged that in
some instances, family circumstances and difficult relationships may prevent involvement in
case planning.
13 Such as mentors, involvement in community groups and sports clubs
Recommendation: That CT updates the AYDC Unit Rules and Information for Young People and Families booklets to ensure currency and consistency of information across all areas.
Recommendation: That CT considers implementing video visits by means of communication tools such as Skype and FaceTime to further facilitate family and community contact.
Recommendation: That CT updates the visiting facilities at AYDC, including by providing an outdoor visits area, to make visits more relaxed and family friendly.
Recommendation: That CT considers providing a secure, electronic form of communication for young people at AYDC, such as the ‘Email a Prisoner’ system.
Recommendation: That CT provides a private space in each unit at AYDC, to afford appropriate privacy for young people to make telephone calls. Additionally, a telephone system with the ability to record calls similar to those being used in other jurisdictions should be considered.
Contact with Family and Friends
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 17
Recommendation: That CT considers including in case management records invitations to families, significant others and community supports to participate and have input into young people’s case management and exit planning meetings.
Community Connections
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 18
7.2 Community Connections
Inspection Standards – 4.2
Inspection standard 4.2 relates to young people at AYDC having connections with the
community, which are strengthened by participation in activities and interventions involving
community organisations, elders and relevant government and non-government agencies.
Community Organisations at AYDC
The inspection found that AYDC has ongoing involvement with a number of external
organisations that regularly attend the centre to engage with young people such as:
City Mission – to deliver the Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART)
program discussed below;
The Glimarman – a local airbrush artist who shares his skills with the young people at
AYDC;
Movement Effects Gym – to deliver a fitness program to young people;
Friends of Ashley – a volunteer visitor group program facilitated by Prison Fellowship
Australia14 and undertaking activities including skate boarding;
Save the Children – a youth worker visits AYDC at least fortnightly, and often weekly,
to provide one-on-one mentoring and assistance with determining goals for re-entering
the community; and
The Aboriginal Elders Council of Tasmania – to deliver its mentor visit program,
discussed below.
The inspection team met with some of the above organisations to discuss their experiences
and the provision of services to young people at the centre:
City Mission’s SMART program is delivered on a weekly basis. SMART is a practical
and solution focused program designed to give those struggling with addictive
behaviours a number of coping strategies that they can use to help achieve their goals.
City Mission reported that the program is well received, however there are times when
young people scheduled to attend the program do not, for various reasons, and this
hinders delivery of the program and its outcomes. Encouragement from staff for young
people to attend, if scheduled, might assist with the progression of young people
through the program.
Save the Children assists young people to get back into school, programs or work, as
re-engagement is sometimes difficult due to family connections or past offending
14 See https://prisonfellowship.org.au/2017/11/14/friends-of-ashley/
Community Connections
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 19
behaviour. The youth worker works closely with CYS, courts and other community
services to introduce new opportunities for young people being introduced back into
the community. Save the Children also attends exit plan meetings at AYDC and
assists young people on release to attend Centrelink, and demonstrates how to
engage appropriately with these services. Save the Children reported a good working
relationship with AYDC.
Aboriginal elders from the Aboriginal Elders Council of Tasmania attend AYDC at least
once a fortnight to engage with young people. The Council runs programs for young
people during school holidays such as the Red Dust Healing15 program and LORE16 -
Land, Origin, Respect and Elders. The Council also facilitates activities such as ochre
painting and clap-stick making at the Centre. Cultural festivals such as NAIDOC Week
and Harmony Day are celebrated every year with activities, including the preparation
of cultural foods. The Council indicated that its main role is to support young Aboriginal
people and to encourage Aboriginal spirituality, but it engages with and supports all
young people at AYDC. The elders advised the inspection team that they felt
welcomed and supported by staff in their visits to young people at the Centre.
AYDC also has a private agreement with a chef to facilitate delivery of a Life Skills Program
which is available to young people on yellow and green colour classifications. The program
involves food preparation with nutrition, cooking and life skills as its objectives. Literacy and
numeracy, budgeting, confidence, teamwork, problem solving and decision making are other
skills that are intended to result from participation in the program. The inspection team spoke
with the facilitator who indicated that the program was well supported by young people and
staff.
The Life Skills Program links in with a Centre-wide morning tea which is held fortnightly. This
is a Centre initiative and is regarded as a pro-social, ‘Ashley community’ event and
community organisations and service providers who are onsite are invited to attend. The
organisations the inspection team spoke with reflected positively on this opportunity to
engage with young people, staff and other service providers/facilitators in an informal setting.
Program Guidelines
AYDC’s Program Guidelines assist staff and service providers to design, deliver, assess,
evaluate and develop programs for young people. There are four levels of programs which
are outlined in the diagram Framework for Rehabilitation Programs at Appendix 4.
15 A group program for indigenous and non-indigenous men and women that examines the intergenerational effects of colonisation on the mental, physical and spiritual well being of Indigenous families and encourages individuals to confront and deal with the problems, hurt and anger in their lives. It is delivered Australia-wide. For more information refer https://www.thereddust.com/ 16 LORE is delivered alongside the Red Dust Healing program and refers to Aboriginal lore which is passed on through the generations through songs, stories and dance and governs all aspects of traditional life. It is common to see the terms 'law' and 'lore' being used interchangeably.
Community Connections
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 20
Level 3 and 4 programs are designed for young people identified at the highest risk of
reoffending. Level 4 programs are usually specialised, intensive programs dealing with
serious offences, for instance extreme violence and sex offences. The inspection team noted
that Level 4 programs were rarely delivered as they were rarely required.
AYDC’s Standard Operating Procedure #9 Site Entry/Exit – Visitors and Service Providers
outlines the requirements for service providers attending the Centre. Program service
providers must make a formal application including providing full details of the proposed
activity/program, its intended benefits, and personal details for all proposed
visitors/facilitators. A full police check is conducted for all proposed visitors/facilitators before
the application is progressed.
Once police checks are conducted, program outlines17 are created by community volunteers
and service providers in partnership with the Program Coordinator. The program outline
clarifies for all parties the service to be delivered and ensures that the proposed service meets
the criminogenic and rehabilitative needs of young people at AYDC. Other considerations in
determining program suitability include the age, gender and ethnicity of the young people
participating. The program outline document essentially forms an agreement between AYDC
and the provider of services and sets out the protocols for service delivery.
Participation in Programs
Individual participation in programs is ultimately determined by the Program Assessment
Team (PAT) comprised of AYDC’s Program Coordinator, Case Management Coordinator,
Operations Manager, Operations Coordinator and the Ashley School Principal. The PAT
meets as required to review a young person’s placement in program groups and to consider
a risk assessment for the proposed placement.
Participation in programs is monitored by means of case management (see 7.1) to ensure
that individual targeted needs are being met and young people are achieving the desired
outcomes - that is, a positive change in behaviours. This also includes reviewing the services
provided to ensure they are relevant to the changing population at AYDC, their ages and
individual needs.
AYDC’s Program Coordinator liaises with the Ashley School to obtain the teaching timetable,
so that programs delivered by external organisations can be scheduled for time out of class,
school holidays or teacher’s leave. The inspection team was advised that scheduling is
sometimes challenging due to a number of factors including:
public holidays;
peer group mix18; and
17 Some program outlines were commercial arrangements where AYDC purchased services (such as MFX Gym and The Glimarman), while others are volunteer services from community based agencies such as City Mission, or volunteers from the community wanting to support young people in custody. 18 There may be different ages and developmental levels to consider, as well as associations and conflicts.
Community Connections
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 21
fitting the programs around, and in conjunction with, young peoples’ individual case
management plans.
Programs and the Incentive Scheme
All programs delivered at AYDC are incentive based, so young people are encouraged to
participate. Participation in programs is linked to the BDS in that incentives, such as
additional telephone calls, extended television time, access to portable DVD player and
movies or PlayStation portable and games are available. The type and number of incentives
available is dependent on the young person’s colour level.
Young people’s engagement in programs is reviewed weekly at the Multi-Disciplinary Team
(MDT) 19 meeting and if it is determined that other programs will assist the young person,
these are arranged.
Community Activities for Young People at AYDC
The inspection team requested records of all community activities undertaken by young
people outside of the Centre for the 2018 calendar year; these could not be provided as they
are not kept. Staff advised the inspection team that in previous years, young people have
been involved in local sporting teams including cricket and football, to strengthen their
connections with community. No such activities occurred during 2018.
19 The MDT consists of the following positions: Manager, Professional Services and Policy (or delegate); Operation Manager (or delegate); Case Management Coordinator; Ashley School Principal (or delegate); Clinical Psychologist; Ashley Nurse; and Senior Practice and Quality Advisor (Children and Youth Services).
Recommendation: That CT considers ways to increase the participation of young people at AYDC in community activities outside of the Centre to strengthen their connections with community.
AYDC’s Location
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 22
7.3 Ashley Youth Detention Centre’s Location
Inspection Standard – 4.3
Inspection standard 4.3 requires that young people should be held as close as possible to
their home region. As AYDC is the only youth detention centre in Tasmania, assessments
to determine which facility will be the best placement for a young person are not relevant as
there is no choice.
Inspection standard 4.3.1 provides that video link communication be made available to
families of young people in detention who live out of region. As previously discussed,
currently AYDC does not have adequate internet service to explore electronic
communication, however this option should be reviewed when the communications network
has been upgraded.
Inspection standard 4.3.2 specifically relates to the financial and geographical hardships of
visits imposed on some families. The inspection team considers that as far as possible, staff
recognise the importance of young people maintaining contact with their home by promoting
visits from family and friends, being flexible with visit times and duration and providing
financial assistance to families to enable them to visit.
Peer Interaction, Community Service Activities and Parental Responsibilities
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 23
7.4 Peer Interaction, Community Service Activities and Parental Responsibilities
Inspection Standards – 4.4 to 4.6
Peer Interaction and Social Contact
Inspection standard 4.4 relates to the importance of peer-based activities (including
involvement from the community), programs targeting peer based offending, peer
associations in the Centre, access to appropriate controlled electronic communication and
regular access to information, entertainment and multi-media appropriate to their
developmental level and age.
The inspection team was informed that players from the Hawthorn Football Club and other
identities including boxer Daniel Geale and Jack Wilson (from Australian Ninja Warrior) have
attended the Centre to engage with young people. In all instances, the visits have been well
received.
Young people at AYDC have social contact with a range of other young people beyond those
accommodated in their residential unit through program delivery, the Ashley School,
structured activities and supervised free time.
Peer associations and conflicts are managed through risk assessments during the induction
process. They are continually managed by means of weekly case management meetings
which discuss the placement of and program engagement for young people.
The inspection standard requires that programs targeting peer-based offending should be
available. The AYDC Program Guidelines require that AYDC:
…provides all young people in custody with access to a structured range
of therapeutic, educational, vocational and recreational programs to
address their criminogenic and social needs.
Access to Information, Entertainment and Multi-media
Young people have access to entertainment such as television, DVD players and movies and
MP3 devices to play music files. These are available through the incentive scheme.
The inspection team observed young people engaging in unit activities such as playing
PlayStation games. Whether the games the inspection team observed were age and
developmentally appropriate is questionable; some were of a violent nature.
Supervised computer access at the Ashley School also enables young people to access age
and developmentally appropriate information and multi-media.
Peer Interaction, Community Service Activities d and Parental Responsibilities
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 24
External Community Service Activities
The inspection team was provided with examples of young people who engaged in external
community service activities. While all young people have the opportunity to voluntarily
engage in programs whilst residing at AYDC, external community service activities are only
available for those who have been sentenced. Participation in external community service
activities is risk assessed to ensure adequate supervision and safeguards for the young
person and the community are in place.
Young People with Parental Responsibilities
At the time of the inspection, there were no young people with parental responsibilities being
accommodated at AYDC and the inspection team was advised that this occurs only very
occasionally.
Due to their infrequent presentation, these young people are managed on a case-by-case
basis. The case management process is used to address their individual requirements,
taking into account their responsibilities and needs.
As was previously reported in the Health and Wellbeing Inspection Report 2017, AYDC has
a program available for residents that are young parents and this includes information about
how to look after their child(ren) and themselves. It is an individualised program for young
people expecting a baby, who already have an infant, or who intend to join a partner in a
similar situation and would benefit from after-care support information. There is a good
relationship between AYDC and the family planning clinic in Launceston and a large focus
on sexual health is provided on the reception of a young person into detention.
Partnerships
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 25
7.5 Partnerships
Inspection Standard – 5.1
Inspection standard 5.1 relates to the detention centre’s partnerships with government and
community organisations and is designed to improve integrated services to young people.
Education, Training and Skills Partnerships
The Department of Education Tasmania provides education services to all young people at
AYDC through the onsite Ashley School. The school undertakes initial testing of each young
person to determine developmental needs and to implement an individual learning plan. The
school also enables young people to access training and skills development courses such as
the ‘white card’20, safe food handling and learner driver’s licence.
The inspection team was advised that the Centre had previously obtained ‘start up’ training
programs from TasTAFE at no cost. An example of this was the provision of Certificate I and
II in Kitchen Operations courses, nationally recognised vocational qualifications, facilitated by
a teacher from Don College. The Certificate courses were considered to provide great skill
sets for young people to return to the community with, and would certainly enhance
employment prospects. These programs, however, are no longer facilitated at AYDC as they
now come at considerable cost. While AYDC has managed to secure the Healthy Food,
Cooking, Nutrition and Life Skills program, which provides cooking lessons for young people,
there is no associated vocational qualification or statement of attainment.
The inspection team was advised that there is currently no formal agreement between CT
and the Department of Education Tasmania; initial discussions have recently taken place to
put in place such an agreement.
Other Partnerships
The inspection standard also requires that the Centre seeks partnerships with:
research bodies or businesses in the community to enhance sustainability; and
organisations to enhance research and evaluation of its practices.
There was no evidence provided to suggest such partnerships are, or have been, put in place.
20 A nationally recognised, mandatory requirement to work in the construction industry. The course covers safety requirements and is considered to be an induction to the construction industry.
Appendix 1
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 26
Appendix 1 - Glossary of Terms and Acronyms
AYDC Ashley Youth Detention Centre
BDS The Behaviour Development Scheme, incorporating the incident
management scheme and incentive scheme, which is used by AYDC to
classify young people based on their behaviours.
CHPS Correctional Primary Health Services, responsible for healthcare
provision at custodial centres, including AYDC throughout Tasmania.
CYS Children and Youth Services, an operational unit of the Department of
Communities Tasmania. CYS manages AYDC.
Appendix 2
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 27
Appendix 2 - The Inspection Standards
2.1.3 There is adequate information available in the foyer, visits area, and on relevant websites regarding visits policy, visiting hours, how to book visits, make queries or lodge complaints. Staff should be available to answer queries in person before, during and after visits and at other times via telephone or written contact.
4.1 The treatment of young people and the conditions in which they are held must meet contemporary community standards of decency and humanity.
4.1.1 Contact with family and friends where safe to do so is treated as a basic entitlement and is promoted as essential to the young person’s psychological wellbeing and to their successful reintegration into the community.
4.1.2 Young people are entitled to make and receive various forms of communication including mail, telephone calls and detention centre visits.
4.1.3 Telephones are sufficient in number and location to allow for equitable access and privacy.
4.1.4 The visits system is flexible and visitor-friendly, and allows for relaxed communication.
4.1.5 Security measures are discreet and sensitive to privacy.
4.1.6 Visiting areas include options for outdoor visits and child play areas.
4.1.7 Family and or friends of a young person are only refused access to visit a young person for a valid reason and as a last resort, and any denial of access is explained clearly to the visitor and young person.
4.1.8 Visits are not withheld as a sanction as part of any behaviour management regime.
4.1.9 The detention centre regularly reviews the number and frequency of visits per young person to ensure all young people are receiving meaningful contact with family or friends. The detention centre takes proactive steps to address lack of contact as appropriate.
4.1.10 Significant family members (or a significant other nominated by the young person) are informed and involved in the young person’s management and case planning wherever possible.
4.1.11 Consular involvement is sought for any foreign nationals and they receive assistance to maintain contact with family through the provision of overseas phone calls or the use of video link. Arrangements should be flexible enough to accommodate international time zones.
4.2 Young people’s connections to the community should be strengthened by participation in interventions and activities involving relevant government and non-government agencies, community organisations and elders.
4.2.1 Involvement with community organisations is regular and ongoing.
4.2.2 Protocols and agreements to support service delivery or visiting services are in place.
4.2.3 The detention centre conducts outreach activities, such as participation in local committees or representation at local events.
4.2.4 Whenever possible, Aboriginal young people participate in cultural activities and celebrations with other Aboriginal people.
4.2.5 Community events and promotions are incorporated in to the detention centre’s routine and activities. For example NAIDOC week and Harmony Day.
4.2.6 Centre management regularly reviews services provided by agencies to accommodate the changing needs of young people.
4.3 Young people should be held as close as possible to their home region.
4.3.1 Video link communication is made available to families of young people in detention who live out of region.
4.3.2 Centre management recognise the financial or geographical hardships for some families to visit the detention centre and proactive measures are taken to increase visitor numbers for young people.
Appendix 2
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 28
4.4 The importance of peer interaction and social contact to healthy development should be recognised during custody.
4.4.1 Peer-based activities (including involvement from community and sporting groups) should be encouraged.
4.4.2 Peer associations within the detention centre should be identified and managed effectively, including in decisions regarding unit and bedroom placement.
4.4.3 Programs targeting peer-based offending should be available.
4.4.4 There should be consideration of appropriately controlled forms of electronic communication to and from family and friends.
4.4.5 Young people should have regular access to information, entertainment, and multi-media appropriate to their age and developmental level.
4.5 Young people should have the opportunity to voluntarily engage in community service activities while in custody.
4.5.1 Community service activities must always be appropriate to the development and maturity of the young person and must incorporate adequate supervision and protection safeguards.
4.5.2 The full extent of the benefits to society derived from these activities should be explained to the young person.
4.5.3 Preferably, community service should be focused on activities that benefit the young person’s local community or have a personal relevance.
4.6 Special considerations should be made for young people who are parents or who have parental responsibilities.
4.6.1 Young people with their own children should be enabled to have a positive relationship with their children such as through flexible visiting arrangements, home leave where appropriate, and suitable child-friendly visit facilities.
4.6.2 Young parents should be helped to address any issues in their primary relationship if relevant through programs or counselling.
4.6.3 Specific services should be available for pregnant young women and new mothers in addition to youth health services – this may include appropriate food and nutrition, maternal health services, and flexible visiting arrangements.
4.6.4 Developmentally appropriate relationship and sexual health programs, and programs on parenting skills and health should be available to all young people regardless of their parental status.
4.6.5 Young people are helped to fulfil any parental responsibilities. Young people undergoing separation and child protection procedures are well supported.
5.1 The detention centre operates in partnership with both government and community organisations to ensure that programs and activities offered are effective and based on evidence and good practice.
5.1.1 The provision of education, training and skills is developed and well-coordinated with external organisations and leads to demonstrable benefits for young people.
5.1.2 The detention centre seeks partnerships with research bodies or businesses in the community to enhance sustainability.
5.1.3 The detention centre seeks partnerships with organisations to enhance research and evaluation of its practices.
Appendix 3
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 29
Appendix 3 - Case Management Process
Appendix 4
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 30
Appendix 4 - Framework for Rehabilitation Programs
Appendix 5
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 31
Appendix 5 - Communities Tasmania Response to Recommendations
Department of Communities Tasmania Comments
The report predominately considers compliance with the Custodial Inspector’s Inspection
Standards based upon observations gained through an inspection of Ashley Youth Detention
Centre (AYDC) on 4 and 5 March 2019.
It is acknowledged that the recommendations in the report are based upon observation by
the inspection team during the onsite visit to AYDC. In addition, a number of other sources
were used to assess AYDC against the inspection standards including meetings with
Communities Tasmania (CT) senior management, interviews with AYDC staff, meetings with
external providers, review of documentation including AYDC policies, procedures and
registers, discussions with young people and observations by the inspection team.
It was pleasing to see the inspection team noted a number of robust and comprehensive
practices, procedures and other mechanisms in place to meet Inspection Standards 2.1.3
and 4.1. This includes: excellent relationships between AYDC and external agencies who
provide a range of services to young people at AYDC; encouragement of young people to
maintain contact with family and friends; AYDC’s facilitation of visits by family and friends and
staff willingness and flexibility to go above and beyond to accommodate visitors.
It is noted that the recent AYDC Equal Opportunity Inspection Report included a
recommendation to update the AYDC Information for Young People and Families booklet.
The scope of this review and update incorporates recommendation 1 in this report, with
consultation soon to commence. In addition, recommendation 2 regarding a private space
for telephone calls and the capacity to record calls was included in the AYDC Custody
Inspection Report recommendations. CT did not support the recording of telephone calls and
noted that this appeared contrary to the installation of private spaces for making calls.
AYDC encourage and facilitate family involvement in the case management of the young
person. This is reflected in the Case Management Guidelines whereby the admission/entry
process includes invitations to all stakeholders (including family and significant others) to the
Case Planning Meetings. Any contact or attempted contact with family and others is recorded
on YCIS. Invitations to Exit Planning Meeting are sent to all stakeholders and with invitations
and attempted contact recorded in YCIS. The Exit Planning and Review procedure includes
facilitation of family attendance at the Exit plan meeting and engagement of
parent/carer/guardian in the process. Family members and/or significant others are
encouraged and supported to contribute to the exit planning process.
Overall, the recommendations in this report will help inform policies, procedures and
infrastructure requirements that will contribute to improved family, community and support
networks for young people at AYDC.
Appendix 5
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 32
Communities Tasmania would like to provide the following clarification:
On Page 14 the report notes that once the visit is completed and visitors have
departed, the procedure indicates that a young person is subject to a clothed body
search and that an unclothed search may be conducted if it is suspected the young
person is in possession of an unauthorised item which they are not prepared to
surrender. The inspection team were subsequently advised that clothed body
searches are only conducted if it is suspected the young person is concealing a
prohibited item. CT would like to confirm that since the inspection was undertaken,
a new Personal Search procedure has been implemented at AYDC which specifies
that all personal searches (including after contact with visitors) are to be based on
reasonable grounds. The Site Entry/Exit – Visitors and Service Providers Standard
Operating Procedure #9 will be updated to reflect this.
Appendix 5
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 33
Responses to Recommendations
Recommendation Response/Acceptance Level
1. Supported - Existing Initiative
This work has previously been identified
through the quality improvement work at
AYDC as requiring a review. Consultation is
about to commence with all areas across
AYDC and external stakeholders. The
recommendation to review and update the
Information for Young People and Families
booklet was previously identified in the
Equal Opportunity Inspection Report. The
scope will now be expanded to ensure
consistency of information across all areas.
2.
See below
Supported – private spaces for telephone
calls
As previously noted in response to the
Custody Inspection Report, limited private
spaces within residential units are available
for young people to make telephone calls. In
the event of a sensitive telephone call being
required, a young person may be provided
with use of another professional room within
the centre. Additional spaces are being
considered as part of the planned
infrastructure upgrade.
Not Supported – recording of telephone
calls
CT does not support the recording of
telephone calls as this appears to be
contrary to the recommendation for
installing private spaces for making calls
and may in part be an infringement of
confidentiality. In addition, the current
telephone system does not have the
capability to record calls.
Appendix 5
Families, Community & Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 34
Recommendation Response/Acceptance Level
3. Supported in Principle
This will be considered as part of the
infrastructure commitment to AYDC.
4. Supported - Existing Initiative
Visiting facilities are to be upgraded as part
of the infrastructure commitment to AYDC.
5. Supported in Principle
CT acknowledges the importance of email
as a relevant and timely means of
communication for young people. There is
currently no infrastructure capacity to
facilitate a secure, electronic form of
communication for young people at AYDC.
This will be considered as part of the
infrastructure upgrade at AYDC and when
internet coverage improves.
6. Supported - Existing Initiative
Case Management hold regular meetings
with residents, inclusive of Case Plan
Reviews (CPR) and during Exit Planning.
Exit Planning sees invitations to many
stakeholders, including family, government
and non-government connections. Case
Management note the attendance and
content of these meetings, and any other
relevant discussions such as a resident
complaint. In addition, such information
including electronic emails/invites are stored
within Youth Custodial Information System
(YCIS) for the purpose of auditing in line with
quality improvement work. Family and
significant others are immediately
advised/consulted when a young person is
admitted to the centre and encouraged to
attend and participate in conferencing and
other decision making processes. Travel
reimbursement options are made available
to parents/guardian in the form of fuel
reimbursement cards or bus travel
vouchers.
Appendix 5
Families, Community and Partnerships Inspection Report – Youth Custodial Services 35
Recommendation Response/Acceptance Level
7. Supported - Existing Initiative
AYDC regularly considers ways to increase
the participation of residents in community
activities. The Manager of Professional
Services & Policy met with Centre Manager
and key staff on 11 September 2019 to
determine the strategic pathway for
Programs for the 2019/2020 year. Strategic
partnerships are sought and/or retained with
Colony 47, Save the Children, Deloraine
Football Club and the Tasmania Police
Early Intervention & Youth Action Units.
AYDC is currently working with the
Manager, Skills Response, Department of
State Growth for Apprenticeship
opportunities for residents. AYDC has also
introduced external learning opportunities
for residents, receiving an Industry Award
for its work introducing a resident to a Gym
Instructor Course, which included
attendance at community gyms.